After taking two of three from both the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, the Minnesota Twins have given themselves a little breathing room in the race. At 44-47, they sit just 1 ½ games behind the Texas Rangers for the third American League Wild Card spot and only four games back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. The Cleveland Guardians are one game behind Chicago.
That puts Minnesota in a familiar spot: close enough to chase, but not so far in that it can afford to ignore the future. Any roster move now has to walk that line.
One player who has earned a look is outfielder Alan Roden.
Acquired by the Twins in the Louis Varland trade last summer, Roden has put together a strong season at Triple-A St. Paul, hitting .281/.408/.529 with a 141 wRC+, eight home runs and 24 RBI in 32 games. A shoulder injury cost him a big chunk of the year, but he has been healthy for the past three weeks.
A call-up would make sense on merit, though the Twins do not exactly have a glaring hole in the lineup. Their offense is leading the American League in runs scored with 448, and the outfield is currently occupied by Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall.
Even so, Buxton’s status could change the picture quickly. He re-aggravated a previous hip injury while trying to steal second base in Sunday’s 6-1 win over the Yankees, and with only six games left before the All-Star break, keeping him out through the break may be the prudent move.
If that happens, Roden could be the next man up. Minnesota could also take a bigger swing and turn to top prospect Walker Jenkins, another center fielder, instead.
On the other side of the ledger, Kyler Fedko looks like a player who may need more time in Triple-A.
Minnesota selected his contract on June 15 after he tore up the Saints’ pitching staff, batting .286/.372/.578 with a 138 wRC+, 15 home runs, 45 RBI and nine stolen bases. It was a deserved promotion for a player who had previously hit just .227/.327/.319 with an 84 wRC+ in 76 games at Double-A Wichita two seasons ago.
But the jump to the majors has been rough. Fedko is 0-for-17 with two walks, an RBI and seven strikeouts since arriving.
That said, the lack of consistent playing time makes the evaluation trickier. Even so, the Twins might be better served using that roster spot on someone who can provide more value in a bench role.
In Other News...
Twins Could Revisit A Painful Reunion As Deadline Pressure Builds
As the trade deadline approaches, Minnesotas front office is weighing whether a push for help makes sense if the club stays in the playoff mix. The rotation has had enough good moments to keep the Twins in the conversation, but it also has enough uneven stretches that a veteran arm would still be more than a luxury.
One name floating in that conversation carries extra baggage in Minnesota, because the pitcher in question already knows the market, the clubhouse and the expectations here. He was excellent in his previous run with the Twins before leaving in free agency, and theres a real sense that bringing him back could steady the top of the staff, even if the financial and prospect price tag makes the idea harder to pull off than it sounds. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Rotation Relief May Finally Be Taking Shape
Bailey Ober took another step toward rejoining the Twins when he threw a bullpen session, a meaningful checkpoint for a rotation that has been trying to piece itself together while he works back from right elbow inflammation. Around him, the club is getting a few other moving parts closer to game speed, with catcher Ryan Jeffers and reliever Cole Sands both continuing rehab assignments with Triple-A St. Paul as the Twins try to sort out who can help next.
The picture is still uneven, though, and the organization does not have a clean bill of health just yet. Emmanuel Rodriguez is still working through his throwing and hitting progression, while the bullpen shuffle has already brought Woo-Suk Go onto the active roster and sent Cody Laweryson back to St. Paul. For a team that has spent plenty of time waiting on reinforcements, the next few days should start to show whether this is the stretch when the rotation and depth chart finally begin to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Byron Buxton Trade Buzz Is Back And Twins Fans Know Why
Byron Buxton trade chatter has a way of resurfacing even when the Twins have given every indication they are not interested in moving him. Buxton has publicly said he does not intend to waive his no-trade clause, and the front office has made clear it is not considering a deal, yet his name still pops up whenever national trade lists get refreshed and the deadline conversation starts heating up.
The reason the speculation never quite disappears is simple enough: Buxton is one of the more recognizable names on the roster, and he also carries serious control over where he goes, thanks to both his contract and his service time. Even so, the odds of anything changing remain remote unless something extraordinary shifts the picture, which is why this feels less like an actual Twins plan and more like a familiar summer echo around a player who remains central to what they are trying to do. [Read more 🡒]